Engine.



E. F. HOWE.

ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED IuIIE I2. 1914.

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EDGAR E. HOWE, OF EL CENTRO, CALIFORNIA.

ENGINE.

masones.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ang. 17, 1915.

Application led June 12, 1914. Serial No. 844,698.

'To all whom it' may concern.'

tary type, and has reference more particularly to the internal combustion type of engine in which a turbine is actuated by the explosion impulses from a chamber pro-` Lvided with means for varying the capacity of said chamberfindependently of the rota-v tion of said turbine.` i

The invention also relates to the provision in a rotary engine of a rotary compressor l With means vfor 'restoring the explosive chamber to its normal volume after explosion has taken place', also for scavenging the chamber, supplying the chamber with fuel mixture; and to explode the mixture in the chambenby compressed air.

The invention further relates to the provision for supplying radially directed explosive impulses to the turbine element, whereby said impulses are simultaneously applied to all parts of the turbine.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact and inexpensive rotary engineandturbine combined.

/lVith the above and other objects in view, the natiire of which Will'more lfully appear l, as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combinat iQn\ and arrangement of "'paifts as herein fully described, illustrated and claimed.

'l In the accompanyingdrawings yforming part of the application similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an engine embodying my invention, with the accessories therefor; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the explosion chamber, showing the details of the mechanisin for actuating the piston; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 Fig. 4, showing thel detailed structure of the valve controlling the device' for actuating the piston', and Fig. 6 is a perspective vieiv of the cam action for operating the valve controlling said device for'the piston.

Referring to the drawings, 5 represents f jecting the casing of the stator, preferably formed of three parts, of which 6 is a section open at the ends, and thereat provided With heads 7 and 8. The head 7, in the center thereof is provided with a co-axial cylinder 9 proexteriorly and interiorly of said head. The inner end of the cylinder is preferably closed, as shown at 10, While the outer end of the cylinder is closed by a head 'l 11 secured thereto in any suitable Way. Po-

sitioned Within the cylinder 9 is a piston 12 which is bell-.shaped and provided with an integral, annular extension 13 for better guiding the piston. A piston rod 14 projects through the head 11' land atthe end thereof is provided with a spider member 15 rigidly secured thereto. i

The portion of the cylinder 9 Within the casing 5 is provided with a series of slots 16 leading from the interior of the cylinder into the head 7. The said slots are preferably adjacent the Wall of the head, and normally closed by the piston 12 under the action ofthe compressed air in the pockets 1.7 engaged by the plungers 18 which are carried by the alining arms of the spider 15. The piston 12 is also provided in its annular extension or sleeve 13 with a series of openings 19 adapted to register with the slots 16 When the fuel mixture supplied by the valve 20 carried by the spider'is exploded in the'cylinder 9. Vhen the said openings 19 of the piston 12 are in registry with theslots 16 (see Fig. 3), the exploded gases will'find an outlet therethrough from the cylinder 9 into the head 7. The exterior lateral surface 0f the cylinder 9, which is Within the head 7, is provided with alseries of stationary vanes 21, preferably integral with the cylinder and the head 7. These vanes are adapted to guide the exploded gases coming from the cylinder 9, into the head, so as to impinge on the varies 22 disposed about the variesy 21 and carried by a rotor 23 provided/ in the cylindrical .part 6 of the stator.

The rotor 23 is rigidly secured to a shaft 24, one end of which bears in the closed end 10 of the cylinder 9, and the other end projects throughthe head 8 ivhereata driven pulley 25 is provided. The rotor 23 preferably is provided with a'concentr'ic recess engaging part of the cylinder 9 and Whereat a roller bearing 26 is provided. The shaft 24 carries also a second rotor 23. similar t0 theA rotor,23 but'vvithout Wings, and which,

if desired, may be made integral with the The registry of the openings 1G and 19 permits the explosive gases to move radially from the cylinder 9 into the head and act on the vanes 22 of the rotor, thuscausing the rotation of the same. The explosion of the gases within the cylinder 9 as previously stated, will force the piston away'from the head 11 of the cylinder 9, causing the spider to move therewith, and therefore the plungers 1S with the actuating. arms provided and simultaneously, the valves .39 will be restored to their normal positionsby,the

fall 'of the roller da from the enlarged portion of the arm lll, Consequently air pressure will be applied to the plungers 18 and the piston 12 driven to its normal position.l

IVhile the ,openings 1G and 19 are in registry fuel has been supplied to the 'cup 49 of the valve 20, and when the piston reaches its normal position the fuel may be driven intothe cylinder and exploded by the compressed air passing through the conduit 50.

The advantage of directing radially the exploded gas into the turbine formed by the vanes 22 of the rotor 23, is that the turning effort is applied to all the vanes 4simultaneously. Although the drawing shows only one outlet for the exploded gases, if desired,

. more than one can be provided, to eliminate the interference ofthe exploded gases with the vane's 22.

To start the engine when there is no air pressure in the tank, the cylinder 9 is provided with a priming cap and spark plug combined 57 whereby the necessary few explosions for raising the pressure in the air tanks are obtained.. lWhen the desired pressure in the tanks has been obtained the spark plug can be cut out and the engine operated as described.

vIt is evident that various changes might be .made and modifications resorted to in the construction and arrangement of the parts described, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction shown.

Having thus described my invention, I

' claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an eiigine,'a stator, a rotor, a cylinder associated/ with said stator and axial with said rotor, a piston in said cylinder forming a fuel-mixture chamber with -said cyhnder, pneumatically operable means for restoring laid pistonto normal position, a rotary compressor formed by said stator and rotor, the air pressure from which is adapted to supply the'fuel to said .chamber and explode the same therein, valves controlling the supply of air from the compressor to said -'pneumatically operable means, means y connecting said valves to the piston whereby when said piston is moved by the explosion in,l..said -cylinder the supply of air from the compressor to said pneumatic means is cut oft', said cylinder having open- 2. In an engine, a stator, a rotor, a cylinder associated with said stator and coaxial with said rotor, a piston insaid cylinder forming an explosion chamber therein, said :rotor and'stator having means forming an air compressor, the air pressure of which is adapted to supply a fuel mixture to said chamber and explode the same therein, whereby said piston is moved in said cylinder,` and means actuated by the air pressure from'the compressor for restoring the piston to its normal position, said piston and cylinder having openings adapted to register when said piston is moved by the exploded fuel, whereby the exploded fuel is directed radially from said chamber into said rotor substantially as and for the purpose .set foi-th.'

3. In an engine, a stator, a rotor, a cylinder associated with said stator, a piston in said cylinder forming an explosion chamber therewith, said rotor -and stator having means forming an air compressor, the air pressure of which is adapted to -supply a fuel mixture to said chamber and explode theasame therein, pneumatically actuated means associated with the piston and said air compressor for restoring the piston to its normal position after the samel has been moved by the exploded mixture, anda valve controlling the connection of said pneu, matically operable means with the compressor for cutting off the supply of air to said pneumatically operablem'eans during the movement of the piston under the action of the exploded mixture, said piston having means vfor directing the exploded mixture from said chamber to said rotor, substantially as described. e

el. In an engine, a stator, a rotor, a cylinder associated with said stator, apiston in said cylinder forming an explosion chamber therewith, said rotor and stator .having means forming an air compressor, the air pressure of Iwhich is adapted to supply a" fuel mixture to. said chamber and explode the same therein, whereby said piston is disl placed in said cylinder, pneumatically operable meansassociated with the compressor and the piston whereby the pistonl'is 4returned to its normal position after being for interrupting.,r the iniuence of the 'compressor on said pne'umatically operable means when the piston is moved by the exploded mixture, said piston having means for directing the exploded mixture from the chamber to said rotor in a radial direction to all parts of said rotor.

5. aIn an engine, a stator, a rotor, a cylin-4 der associated with said statorand axial with said rotor, a piston in said cylinder forming an explosion chamber therewith, said rotor and stator having means forming an air compressor the air pressure of which is adapted to supply a fuel mixture to said chamber and explode the same therein, whereby said piston is displaced within said cylinder, a piston rod associated with said piston, a spider carried by said piston rod,

plungers carried by said spider', air pockets engaged b y said plungers, means connecting the pockets to the compressor', a valve controlling the connection between the compressor and the pockets, and means for operating the valves associated with the spider whereby pressure on said plungers is cut off when the piston is moved within the cylinder by the explosion of the fuel mixture,

-said piston and cylinder having openings adapted to register when the piston is moved to its limit position by the explosion of the fuel in the cylinder whereby the exploded fuel is directed radially from said chamber into said rotor, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

`(i. In an engine, a stator, a rotor, a cylinder associated with said stator, a piston in said cylinder forming an explosion chamber therewith, said rotor and stator having means forming` an air compressor, means associated with the'movement of the piston adapted to receive a fuel charge under the action of the air compressor when said piston is moved by the exploded fuel, and pneumatically operable means for restoring the piston to its normal position, said charge oi fuel carried by said charge receiving meansv being adapted to be forced into said cylinder by the compressor when said piston is re. turned to its normal position by said pneumatic means, said piston having means for` directing radially the exploded charge to the rotor substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In an engine, a stator, a rotor, a cylinder associated with said stator, a piston in said cylinder forming an explosion chamber therewith, said rotor and stator having means forming' an air compressor the air pressure of' which is adapted to supply a fuel mixture to said chamber and explode the same therein, pneumatic means associated with said piston and compressor for restoring said piston to its normal position after the same has been displaced by the exploded mixture, said piston and cylinder having openings adapted to register when said piston is moved by the exploded fuel to its limit position, whereby the exploded fuel is radiated from said chamber into said rotor, and. means for scavenging the cylinder associated with the compressor and becoming' operable when the openings of the piston and cylinder are in register.

ln testimony whereof I havev signed vmy name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDGAR F. HOWE.

llf'itnesses:

Lus'rnn IV. TURNER, C. lV. BARTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

